Joint statement by Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment, and Sofoclis Aletraris, EU President of the Environment Council, on the outcome of the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity

Hyderabad, 22-10-2012 — /europawire.eu/ — The European Union welcomes the agreement today on the measures needed to implement the global strategy to prevent biodiversity loss agreed in Nagoya.

The negotiations were at times difficult but the EU, which is the world’s largest donor of funds for biodiversity protection, is in particular pleased that the contentious issue of resource mobilisation was resolved in a way acceptable to all parties.

Biodiversity loss is one of the most serious issues facing the world today. Future generations would not forgive us for failing to act decisively to protect our invaluable ecosystems, habitats and species. This is why the EU and its Member States together, in spite of current economic and financial difficulties, have been fully committed to an agreement in Hyderabad which would allow the goals decided in Nagoya to be achieved.

We are also pleased that recipients of finance in our partner countries will play their part by prioritising biodiversity in their national plans. Biodiversity loss is a global problem and tackling it will require a truly global effort. We are pleased that once again it has been demonstrated that multilateral negotiations can and do work.

For the adopted texts on resource mobilisation, marine protection and all other issues decided at CoP11, and background on the CBD see:

http://cbdcop11india.in/home.html

http://www.cbd.int/